With the massive popularity of cell phones and smart phones has anyone looked into the legality of using them while hunting to tell your buddy a game animal is coming his way.

Seems I remember that was illegal when radios were the rage.

We used to use radios on a regular basis. I never thought it was illegal. If so, no one cared. Everyone I knew used them.

In Ohio it is illegal to use phones or radios to communicate the location of game and so on. You can use for general communication though.

Hard to police, but no more so than any other aspect of "fair chase" I suppose.

I recall a recent thread regarding to guys hunting elk and how they used their phones to coordinate the hunt. Thought at the time that was going a bit over the top.

I mean I would but since it is electronic, it would still be considered illegal in Iowa.

I would bet since it is electronic, it would still be considered illegal in Iowa.

Pretty sure radios are illegal to alert others about game I'd imagine phones would be the same

Phones don't work where I hunt, and no I am not the extreme hiker/hunter, they just don't work well in rural MT. I have debated taking it with me as a camera/clock, but don't even do that just leave it in the truck.

oz

Unless your buddy is deaf and blind your buddy will know soon enough there's a deer headed his way, won't he?? And if there is a deer headed his way he should be preparing for a shot, not messing around with his phone. Anyway, regardless, it's illegal here in Minnesota.

Don't know about the legality. I hate cell phones, but I've started carrying one. If the fall doesn't kill me, maybe I can still call for help!

I have one because I was ordered to...by the wife. 8^). I have a TracFone, $20.00 every three months. It's for incoming and outgoing calls only...emergency or damn near it. I have a camera that I carry so I don't need a phone to take photos. I do know guys who never look up from their phones. I don't know how in the hell they survive day to day.

How would the game cops prove what you were doing with the phone? They would have to be listening in or recording your conversation. By then, it's a moot point, or I've already Hillaried my phone.

I'm unfortunately addicted to my phone. When hunting near home (where there's signal) I use it to pass the time during my sits. When I went up north I had no reception and it really helped my discipline because I didn't have that distraction. I still had a book to read. I'm hoping to eventually be able to leave all distractions in the truck but right now I would just be too frigidity in the stand and scare everything away.

BTW....I'm new here but this has been a very informative place.Thanks for all the knowledge sharing.

Just not a problem around my place…No cell service in most places!

Just because something is illegal in one state doesn't mean it's illegal in every state. For what it's worth, this is perfectly legal in both IL and WI.

Sometimes I have mine with me, but it's not a smartphone. Only used when someone needs help tracking or dragging. Don't know how anyone can be so bored while hunting, that they have to play around with a phone. MP

A few of my hunting friends are worse than two teenage girls texting each other while watching their boy band on tv! My phone is vibrating in my pocket every 5 minutes as they document every deer seen. I only text when I am getting out of the tree or have blood on the ground.

You can solve that Ollie, turn the vibration and sound off.

Opening day of turkey season last spring my phone started vibrating at 6:20 AM and went all morning. I was so festered I had to figure something out. Found the do not disturb feature on my phone. The rest of the season I had that on. I enjoyed my hunts a lot more. And here in PA it is illegal to use any electronic devices in pursuing game.

radio communication was not allowed in hunting in past in some states

http://www.all-creatures.org/cash/taah-v-20040510.html

sorry, my hyperlink didn't work

Really, sorry. I just notice that was an anti-hunting site. Here is the same press release from a hunting site.

http://shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=21730

On the state land I hunt there is no point...reception is so spotty you couldn't count on a phone for anything. The battery gets wiped out in no time at all while looking for a signal that isn't there. We tried radios once...you may get a quarter mile..mostly not though...woods are too thick

Not legal in GA.

I take a phone for emergencies. It could be the difference between life and death.

In Ohio it was illegal to use a communication device to communicate another hunter.

Seems like it was debated by Compton's on whether it was ethical. Seems like cheating to me. But, I don't use cell phones at all.

I carry my phone on every hunt. I make my son text me when he is in his stand and safety harness strapped up. If he shoots a deer he lets me know. I do the same for him. It is a safety precaution for us. I do understand those that don't like them. To each his own.

Has nothing to do with not liking them, it has to do with being addicted to them....not being able to even take a dump without a phone you your hand. Otherwise, if people had any sense, they would just be like any other utility. Not the phones fault.

LOL! You guys that need a phone to "pass the time" while hunting should try stillhunt/stalking. I guaran-damn-tee that you will have PLENTY to do besides messing with a phone.

You guys that don't like the phones shouldn't worry about those that do! And as far as not being able to take a dump without one, I can because I have my tablet instead, used to be a Cabelas catalog or Bowhunter Magazine etc.. But I change with the times and at 52 I'm not technically challenged, kids ask me how to do stuff with their phones!

Got to regulate a person when ever possible. I am sure I break some law on a daily basis. So Stupid!

Man years old, when I was bored used to sleep. Problem with that when I wake up always had to get down to retrieve bow. No more stands, sleep to my hearts content. Now when I wake up I have to be ready to shoot, deer all around me. I most not snore. trap

Hi, my name is Tweed, and I'm a Phonaholic. LOL

I use a cell phone for hunting but don't carry one daily. Saved my butt the last three years after I had a deer down getting help to drag them out.

My wife and I both have cell phone, no land line no computer no pay tv. I am out side most of the time, hunt alone and not an internet wonder. My phone has maps, google and radar. Keeps my wife of 43 yearshappy. My first phone was wood box with a crank handle.

I refuse to let my phone disturb me while hunting or in any other aspect of my life. It's in the car or in my hunting pack in case of emergency. It is turned off.

If you need a phone to keep you entertained while sitting in Gods glory you need to get a life!

In PA it's illegal to notify someone of game movement electronically.

I carry my cell phone at all times in the woods on vibrate. Not only for an emergency for me, but also so my wife and family ( or emergency personal ) could get a hold of me if there is an emergency at home. Twice the cell phone was priceless, the first time was when mutual aid ( ambulance service ) called me because my mother fell. The second call was from a hospital because my 20 year old nephew was in a car accident. His Dad is a truck driver and was on the road, and is mother was visiting family in Florida. So that puts Uncle Frank in charge. He broke his right leg in two places and had to be operated on, and now he has pins in his femur bone. Thank goodness it wasn't worse. But my family and friends do know if I'm hunting and if it's not an emergency don't call me.

Cell phones etc., are illegal to use as a hunting aid in Iowa. Ollie, your friends are breaking the law !

So... If using a phone to relay deer movement is illegal, whats different in a game camera? Law is stupid. If you can argue against a phone but for a camera then you are part of the problem.

I think is a good ideal to bring a phone for saftey and maybe a little fun...but not to fiddle with instead of hunting.

In Iowa they can be used to "organize the hunt" but not "during the hunt".

I like technology.,me and my buddies use them when we are hunting where we are not supposed to be to warn each other. Lol. Hahaha.,

It's illegal to use any electronic communications to aid in the hunt in Colorado. That was the law before cell phones became ubiquitous but the way it was written, they are automatically covered.

When people used walkie talkies to aid in the hunt it was something that could be monitored by a WCO. Not so with phones. Luckily the service is so poor in most areas that they are not practical for that purpose out here.

I too wonder how so many of our members can constantly bash technology and those who use it but at the same time sit at their computer to do it. LOL

How about cameras, are those also the tools of the devil infiltrating the ranks of the true sportsmen? :)

Kind of hard to prove either way!

I'm just surprised we have so many folks who don't know there games laws.

makes no difference to me, there is no service where I am most of the time,,,,,, being older my daughter bought me a spot and subscription,,,,,, break an ankle trapping and hit that button, Michigan State Police told me, they will know exactly where I am at, or whoever, fields that call......

I have no interest in talking or texting while hunting, but I am from a different generation.......

I do not bash technology, I think they are a good thing, just have no interest, and like my flip phone, when I am in a service area,,,,,,

Hunting Fair Chase and legally, is up to you, its not something that can be regulated, other than collecting fines..... You know what the right thing is to do,,,,,,,

I dont like having a phone with me when I am hunting,, I go hunting to get away from everything if possible,, back in the day before cell phones ,, people hunted just fine with out them,, I am old and grumpy so anything I say , ,take with a grain of salt,,all my friends carry them,, and I stil like them,,, even took some nice pics they are going to email me,, so, I guess I should not complain too much,,:)

My phone takes pictures, and video as good as a $2000 DSLR camera. That's why I carry my phone.

Rick

I was given a sermon from a game warden about how cell phones are every bit as illegal as the cb radio fiasco with the shot gun hunters. He threatened to give me a ticket if I used it while I was hunted. The problem I had was that I was turning it off and putting it my glove compartment when he saw that i had one. There is no coverage in that valley at that time, a knew cell tower has now made coverage possible down there. We have limited public land in our corner of the state. There are some very rich people that do not like to share. In some areas the cameras and tree stands far out number the deer and the hunters. Two years back, way before it was legal to hang tree stands, I ran into guys from Montana with a pick-up load of tree stands, out hanging tree stands on public land. This year the same was done with Wisconsin hunters. The game wardens did not seem to have the ability to stop them. In that same valley it is now possible to have cellular cameras, everyone has gone to them, they are every where and I consider them to be in invasion of privacy, an illegal digital conveyance that is even worse than having your buddy out there giving out calls about deer. This year once again I was given the tree stand warning about if I catch someone in my tree stands, I hunt on the ground, and my cell phone. This time it was my turn to give the sermon, because the game warden himself uses the cellular trail cams on his land and he thinks they are great. Trail cameras should be illegal on public land and tree stands should be removed on a daily basis. It is illegal to keep duck hunting stuff left behind, it should be equally illegal to leave deer hunting stuff behind. Leave no trace hunting for all public lands.

Amen Dean.

Nothing elitist, but it may be generational. I worked for a principal that saw my aversion to the phone/tech world. She identified it as" the idea of carry a phone is like having an electronic tether". She was right. People survived emergencies in the woods for ages, or they didn't. Life works that way!

@mgerard...your loved ones might disagree with your last statement if you're ever in a situation where a cell phone would have saved you if you had it. Speck

Yesterday, I accidentally left my cell phone on, I got a call saying that my insurance had been canceled. My neighbor is my insurance agent for all of my insurance. I hung up, they called back, I said, "I don't care how much you call me, I will not have sex with you." Then they hung up.

Thanks speck, but where I hunt and live, there is no cell service, so it wouldn't matter.

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